TORONTO — The chief executive of Air Canada revealed Monday he plans to step down before year’s end, following widespread criticism over his decision to deliver crash condolences exclusively in English.
Michael Rousseau informed the airline’s board of directors that he intends to retire no later than the conclusion of the third quarter, the Montreal-based carrier announced.
The controversy stems from Rousseau’s response to a fatal aviation accident at LaGuardia Airport in New York earlier this month. Two crew members perished when an Air Canada Jazz aircraft traveling from Montreal struck a fire truck during landing operations.
Among the victims was Antoine Forest, a French-speaking pilot from Quebec, along with Mackenzie Gunther. Rousseau’s video statement expressing sympathy was delivered entirely in English, with French translations appearing only as subtitles.
The language choice sparked immediate outrage in Canada, where both English and French hold official status. Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the unilingual message as demonstrating poor judgment and insensitivity. Quebec’s provincial leader François Legault and other officials demanded Rousseau’s resignation.
The federal Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages reported receiving hundreds of formal complaints regarding the incident. This latest controversy adds to previous criticism Rousseau has faced for his limited French language abilities.
When Rousseau assumed the airline’s top position in February 2021, he had committed to learning French. However, his promise remained unfulfilled, creating ongoing tension given that Air Canada operates from Quebec, where approximately 80 percent of residents speak French as their primary language.
The linguistic divide reflects Quebec’s complex cultural identity, which has remained a sensitive issue since British forces conquered New France in the 1760s.
